Article-forming system



R. w. cuMMlNGs ET Al. 2,531,555

ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM Nw, za, 195o Filed May 3, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet l gen1/l' L Q Q a mwnmm 2% i: v SIB "D Rog WCummz'ngs George FC Bur-k@ their' .4o/nay R. w. cuMMlNGs ET AL 2,531,555

Nw. 28, 195o ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1946 nvenam Roy W Cummings George F C Bur/ NW 28, 1950 R. w. cUMMlNGs ET Al. 2,53L555 ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM Filed May s, 194e 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 f 7 XM1/@mmm R@ W Cummings Bj their Atto/"neg wir@ l 2 195 R. w. czUMMlNGs ET AL 2,53L555 ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM Filed May 3, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 /0/ f 96 y zo] van mm Roy W Cummings Geo/ge F C Bur/ 6 y N0V 28, 1950 R. w. cuMMlNGs ET Al. 2,531,555

ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM 14 SheetsvSheet 5 Filed May 3, 1946 [n1/en tom Roy W Cummings George FC Bur/ 6 y they Attorney NOV 28, 1950 R. w. cuMMlNGs ETAL 2,531,555

ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM Filed May s, 194e 14 sheets-sheet e 74 o4 Inventors v 5F r 76 @r i Oy- W Cummmg m '"T u" Geo/:ge F C Bur/fe O 306 C) [E By their zzorney 3/2 r 1'] NOV- 28, 1950 R. w. CUMMINGs ET Al. 2,531,555

ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM 14 Sheets-Sheefl '7 Filed May s, 194e Inventors R05 W Cummings Geo/ge F C Bur/ve B5 their Attorney R. w. cuMMlNGs ET A1. 2,531,555

ARTICLE Nov. 28, 1950 -FORMING SYSTEM 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 3, 1946 InvenZU/J Roy W Cummings 6Go/ge F C. Burke B their Attorney H90 R. w. CUMMINGS ET Al. 2,53L555 ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed May 3, 1946 mwmmom Roy W Cummings Geo/:ge F C Burke Ey their Attorney 28 R95@ R. W. CUMMINGS :5T/1u. 2,53%555 ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM i Filed May 3, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 infn Q /54 Q L' l www inf/@Hmm Roy W Cummings George F C. Bur/fe B /zeL'r/ney 28, 1950 R. w. CUMMINGS ETAL 2,531,555

ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM Filed May 3, 1946 14 Sheets-Sheet ll mgm/ga /[J V54 Rnggggs George F C Burke By their' Attorney I 'y f l" f f J 28, 1950 R. W. cUMMlNGs ET AL 2,5%,555

FORMING SYSTEM ARTI CLE 14 Sheets-Sheet l2 Filed May 3, 1946 Roy W Cummings Geo/ge FC Burke By their Attorney R. w. cuMMlNGs ETAL 2,531,555

Nov. 28, 1950 RTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM 14 sheets-sheet 13 Filed May 3, 1946 (X3 Invenmm Roy W Cummmgs George F C Burke B their toff/ze N0V 28. 1950 R. w. cUMMlNGs ET AL 2,531,555

ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed May 5, 1946 [nvenwm Roy W Cummings B their Attorney Patented Nov. 28, Y1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFQE ARTICLE-FORMING SYSTEM Application May 3, 1946, Serial No. 667,218

(Cl. 93H1) 51 Claims.

This invention relates to the formation of various articles, it being especially applicable to the production from sheet-material of nlters for gasmasks.

A known type of iilter is made from blanks of a thin and relatively frail material, such as paper, which is folded into corrugated sections, a plurality of these sections being joined to furnish a filter. It is an object of this invention to so operate upon the blanks that the filters may be produced with great eiiiciency andV at a very rapid rate, while maintaining the filtermaterial against injury tending to impair its eiiieiency.

A feature of the invention by which the above object may be attained may be found in a method of forming sheet-material, in which a pair of molds is positioned to furnish passages for the reception of a blank of material, the blank preferably being partially folded and introduced into the passages and then the molds pressed toward each other to form the blank. The introduction oi' the blank may be facilitated, and the necessity for applying undue pressure avoided, by the application to the ends of the passages opposite t-liose receiving the blank of a force, as suction, which completes the introduction. 'The formation of the filter, or other article, is preferably effected by the operation upon a blank or blanks in a series of steps performed at stations through which the molds travel and at which they are successively stopped. These operations may include the assisted introduction of the blanks between the molds; the application of an adhesive to blanks formed in the molds into lter-sections in preparation for joining; the bringing the coated surfaces together to join the formed blanks or sections in the pairs' of molds; the separation of the molds of both pairs, this separation being best successive; the removal of the joined filter-sections from the molds; the cementing to each filter-section of a lap with which the companion-Section is provided; and the separation of the pairs of molds in preparation for the reception of other blanks. As the molds are advanced for the successive operations, other operations are performed upon the traveling blanks. These may include the preliminary bringing of the molds into position t'o receive the blanks; the pressing of the molds toward each other .to form the introduced blanks; the pressing of the pairs of molds toward each other to cause coated portionsof the formed blanks to adhere; the relieving the 'pressure .applied be tween said formed and coated blanks; and the separating of the molds to free the formed lter for removal.

Another feature of the invention involves a system made up of instrumentalities by which our improved method may be performed. The more essential elements of the system are provided by a mechanism in which molds are mounted upon a carrier for movement relatively to each other and having a series of walls adapted to intermesh with each other, these furnishing passages for the introduction of a blank of material to be formed. For the formation of the projections may pass.

a sectional article, as a filter, two pairs of molds are so mounted that they are movable between positions in alinement with each other and in parallelism, as by the pivoting of one of the pairs upon the carrier, the molds of both pairs being movable relatively into and out of active cooperation with each other. In the alined relation, the blanks may be introduced between the molds of both pairs and formed b y the relative movements 0f the molds of each pair and portions coated with an adhesive. In the parallel relation, the formed blanks are pressed together by relative movement of the pairs of molds for their joining and are released for removal by the separation of the molds. In the system, the carrier for the molds is movable upon a track, and rails extending along the track have portions which effect changes in the relation between the pairs of molds and the molds of each pair, as already outlined in connection with the performance of the method. Separate rails, which may be in part in sections, produce the forming pressure upon the blanks, the joining pressure between the formed blanks, and the separation of the molds to free the blanks for removal. In the movement of the mold-pairs between alinement and parallelism, the pivoted pair receive the support of means associated with the pivot, after it has left the rail which has produced the forming pressure. The support may be provided with a yieldable portion, which permits the separation of the molds of the pair. The rail for applying forming pressure to the molds is preferably engaged by projections from the lower molds of both pairs, while those rails which cooperate in the application of joining pressure are engaged at opposite sides by projections from the mountingsof the mold-pairs. To permit, without interference, the movement oi" the pivoted pair of molds, the latter rails have spaces through which At one of the plural stations. along the track, to which the carriage lpresents the molds in predetermined positions controlled by stops releasable by an operator, there is mechanism by which a blank is drawn between the molds in preparation for its formation, the drawing force being preferably exerted by suction applied through the passages between the molds. The drawing mechanism includes means for facilitating the entrance of a blank into the mold-passages and its movement therethrough. So they shall not interfere with the travel of the molds upon the track, the suction means and its associated elements are movable into and out of their active positions, and there is herein disclosed means for preventing injury to such elements by locking them against movement in their inactive positions for release under the control of the molds in their movement. Further, there is a latching or stop device for retaining the molds in cooperation with the drawing mechanism, this device being locked in its retaining relation by a member which is moved to release said device by connection to an operator-actuated member through which the drawing mechanism is moved between its positions.

The herein-disclosed mechanism by which -a coating of adhesive is applied to the filter-sections, is made the subject of an application for Letters Patent led in the United States Patent Oflice on February 4, 1946, in the names of John M. Whelton and George F. C. Burke, and bearing the Serial No. 645,416; while the filter-holder for lap-cementing is the subject of an application led August 16, 1944, in the name of George F. C. Burke, with the Serial No. 549,778, now Patent No. 2,432,137, issued December 9, 1947.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one of the many possible embodiments of our invention,

Fig. 1 shows in perspective the complete article-forming rink;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an entire moldassembly, open and viewed from the outside of the rink;

Fig. 3 shows in end elevation the means for supporting the molds upon their track;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in vertical transverse section through one of the lower molds;

Fig. 5, a broken front elevation of a supporting device for the pivoted mold-pair;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the molds from the side opposite that of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7, a sectional detail through the pivotal connection between the mold-pairs;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary top plan views of the lower molds, with the pivoted mold in successive positions;

Fig. 11 illustrates in perspective the mechanism for loading the molds;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged topplan view of said mechanism;

Fig. 13 shows the loading mechanism in side elevation;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the mold-closing Wall at the loading mechanism, together with the more closely associated elements;

Fig. 15 illustrates in perspective the rst step of introducing a partially folded filter-blank into' the loading mechanism;

Fig. 16 similarly illustrates the further intro-1 duction of the blank;

Fig. 17 is a like view, showing the blank fully in place between the molds;

Fig. 18, a perspective view of the molds, with. the blank as it appears ready to receive the apv plication of cement; i

Fig. 19, a perspective View of the entrance p0rtion of the loading mechanism;

Fig. 20, a broken detail in perspective of some of the elements of Fig. 19, viewed from the rear;

Fig. 2l, a perspective of one of the mold-latching devices, viewed from the rear;

Fig. 22, an enlarged broken rear elevation of this latching device;

Fig. 23, a perspective view of the latch-releasing means at the loading station;

Fig. 24, a like View of the latch and stop means at the unloading station, viewed from the rear;

Fig. 25, a perspective view, diagrammatic in character, of the driving means for the blankcoating mechanism;

Fig. 26, a perspective view of said coating mechanism;

Fig. 27, a perspective view of a portion of the track and rails along which the molds are advanced, viewed from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 28, a diagrammatic side elevation of the rails and the molds in successive positions;

Fig. 29, an enlarged perspective view of the rails and associated devices at the unloading station;

Fig. 30, a like view, particularly illustrating the overhead mold-separating rails;

Fig. 31, a diagrammatic plan of the apparatus at one side of the rink;

Fig. 32, a perspective view of the lter-holder at the unloading station;

Fig. 33, a top plan view of a blank from which a 'filter may be formed;

Fig. 34, a side elevation of the blank, partially folded in preparation for introduction into the loading mechanism; and

Fig. 35, a top plan view of a completed filter.

To consider first an article for the forming of which the present system is particularly adapted, this being a filter F (Fig. 35) for use in such devices as gas-masks, it may be of some such porous material as paper and consist of two sections furnished by equal segments S, S, each formed from a sector-shaped blank s creased at c along arcuate lines (Fig. 33). Each blank is folded in a series of folds or plaits ,f of gradually decreasing radii. The two filter-sections are joined at their common diameter by such a cement as latex, there being at one end of the outer fold of each section a reinforcing extension or lap e which overlies and is cemented to the outer wall of the other section.` There results a thin cylindrical body, the successive folds of which present a relatively great lter-area for the space occupied. This lter may be placed within the can of 'a gasmask and clamped by a ring engaging the inner side of the outer folds. Obviously, in the formation of the folds, the lter-material must not be broken or greatly compressed or stretched, and the joints between the ends of the section-folds must be unbroken.

The elements which we employ for direct engagement with the blanks to effect their formation preferably consist of two pairs of mating molds M, M1 and M2, M3 (Figs. 2 and 6), the pairs acting simultaneously to press two blanks s, s into the folds f. The pair` of molds M2, M3 is so pivoted that it may be positioned in alinement with the companion-pair M, M1 (Figs. 2, 6 and 8) for the reception of the blank, or swung parallel to said companion-pair for the joining of the formed sections S, S (Figs. 9 and 10). Carried by a conveyor-system, a plurality of the double pairs of molds, providing mold-assemblies, are advanced through a rink made up of one or more 4`series of stations, at which stations successive operations` are performed by operators. upon the work. The travel of the molds through the rink is produced successively by the operators to advance them from station to station. At a loading station A (Figs. 1 and` 1l), the two pairs of molds, which arrive separated to the maximum extent, are automatically partially intermeshed. to receive in two successive positions the blanksr to be formed (Figs. 15, 1.6 and 1.7). The introduction of the blanks to the molds by an operator at. d. (Fig. 31) is aided by suction mechanism A1. In traveling to the succeeding coating station B, one mold of each pair is moved toward its companion, as a result of its advance, to apply forming pressure to the blank, and, with the blanks still under pressure, the operator at b, by actuation of the coating mechanism B1 applies cement simultaneously to the end-surfaces l ofthe folds f at the diameters of both sections S. Having thus coated the two sections, the operator b turns the molds M2, M3 opposite theV molds M, M1 about their pivot, to bring the coated surfaces of the two lter-sections together. As the molds travel on, the sections are held under the vertical forming pressure, and lateral pressure is also applied automatically to urge the molds M2, M3 toward. the molds M, M1 to cause the cemented surfaces to be joined. In the further advance of the molds tok an unloading station C, the filter-sections are relieved of the iorming force, the molds M1, M3 being lowered automatically from the` sections M, M2, and the molds M2, M3 are simi-- larly freed from the lateral. joining pressure. A11 operator c at station C removes the joined ltersections from the molds and places them upon a holder C1, while the lap e of each section is cemented manually to the companion-section. This is effected in one position ofthe entire moldassembly, and in an adjacent position the. operator returns the molds M2, M3 to alinement with the molds M, M1 and may forward them to another series of operators in the rink for use in the production of another lter.

To support the molds and to guide them from station to station, there appears in Fig. l. of the drawings a top-frame -50 supported upon posts 52 and having suspended from it a double track 54, generally of inverted U-form (Fig. 3). As illustrated, the track is arranged to serve a rink com; prising two series of operating positions, the two series being arranged along opposite straight portions 55, 56 of the track connected by curved. portions 53, 58. Along the straight runs of the track, the respective series of operating stations A, B and C are located, the curved portions. merely permitting the transfer of the molds be.- tween the two series. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 6. upon the tracks 54 run pairs of double-wheeled trolleys 59 6o, from each of which depends a rod e2. The rods of each pair are connected and spaced from each other by a plate 64 to form, with the trolleys, a wheeled carriage. The lower portions of the rods are threaded, and upon them, by pairs of nuts e5, S6, are clamped arms 68,. 68

rising from a mold-carrier 1G. A handle 1I on one of the arms facilitates the manipulation of. the carriage by the operator. Rotatable upon the carrier is a pair of grooved rolls 12, 12, arranged to. contact with an overhead rail 14 Sup-v ported upon overhanging standards 'IBv carried by lower frame members la at each side of the apparatus parallel to the track-portion B. The rolls 'i2 resist displacement ofthe molds when upward forming pressure is applied' to them` Extending downwardly from the rear half of the carrier, considered in the direction of operating; travel, are parallel. rods 80, `811` connected at the bottom by a crossbar 8l. Between the under face of the carrier and shoulders upon threaded extremities of these rods (Fig. '7) is clamped, by nuts upon the rods, the flange of a holder 82 belonging to the mold M. The holder contains a series of concentricv arcuate walls or ringsections 84.., each of which is. semi-circular, these walls being equally spaced' from the adjacent walls and gradually decreasing in radius from an inner concave abutment 86. Through openings in the holder-wall and alined openings in the sections extend headed pins 8B (Fig. 4). Screws 90 pass through openings in the abutment registering with the pins, and are threaded into said pins, maintaining all the elements of the mold in xed relation. This retaining arrangement may be similar for all the molds. Each of the rings tapers outwardly from a body-portion 92, through which pass the pins. y88, to a slightly rounded point. Guided to slide upon the rods is a. lower holder 94, in which, similarly to the mold M, are clamped the wall-sections 96 of thev mold M1.. As may be. seen in Figs. 1'7 and 18, the sections 84, 96 intermesh symmetrically and are adapted first to receive between them and then to enter alternately the successive folds f of a. blank. A center abutment S8 has a convex surface complemental to the concave surface of thev abutment 86, these acting upon the` inner complete fold of the blank, while the small end g of they blank (Fig. 33) overlies a vertical surface IDI! of the abutment 98. As appears in Figs. 8 to l0, the opposed surfaces of the.v center abutments and of the outer ring-sections project at il somewhat beyond the planes of the intermediate ring-sections. This produces greater joining pressure (Fig. 10). between the proiecting ltersurfaces Z, l at the more critical points. When the mold M1 is raised tov act with the mold M upon a blank introduced between them, said blank will be pressed into the concentric folds f, as they appear in Fig. 18, the size of the blank being such that it projects somewhat from the diameter of the mold-sections for the reception of a coating of cement.. This elevation of the mold M1 is effected by a rail H32 (Fig. l) attached to the standards 1E and engaged at its upper edge by a roll lofi rotatable at the bottom of the lower holder 4. The rail has a cam-incline i535 which the roll engages as the molds arrive at the rail, this incline elevating the lower mold from the fully separated position of Fig. 2 to the partially meshed relation of Fig. 17, for the introduction of `a blank while it is temporarily held by a horizontal surface MB of the. rail. See also the diagram of Fig. 28. A succeeding cam-incline H0 upony the rail brings the roll IM upon a second horizontal rail-surface H2 with the blank under clamping pressure, as may be seen in Fig. 18.

The pair of molds M2, M3 so arranged that it may be alined with the pair M, M1 along the run 56 of the conveyor-track (Fig. 8) in a position for the introduction of a blank Aat mechanism A1, for the work-pressing action of the. rail |02 and for the coating action of the mechanism B1, or may be brought, into parallelism with thev pair M, M1 (Fig. 10) to eiect the. adhesion of the cemented diameters of the lter-sections and` for the removal of the lter at station C. To permit this movement of the molds M2, M3, they are pivoted upon the carrier 1i! 'about a vertical rod f2s set in said carrier and in the bar 8l. Thesev molds may themselvesv be identical with themolds M, M1 and require no description, but the upper mold M2 is attached to an arm |22 mounted to swing about the rod |25 upon a shoulder |2| (Fig. 7). Rods |24, upon which the holder of the lower mold M3 is slidable, join the arm |22 to a vertically alined arm |26 turning about the rod |20. A projection |28 from the carrier 10 limits the movement of these molds away from their companions. As long as the two pairs of molds are alined in the direction of travel, a roll |30 upon the 4holder of the mold M3, running upon the rail |02, maintains the desired vertical relation between this mold and the mold M2. When, however, this roll leaves the rail as the hinged molds are swung into parallelism with the companion-pair (Fig. 9), this support is lost. To maintain the mold M3 in its raised relation during this movement, there is fast upon the rod |20 a bracket |32 having an arcuate horizontal surface |34 (Fig. 5). With the mold M3 in its raised pressure-applying position, a, projection |36 from the arm |25 lies in a horizontal plane just above the surface |34. As the roll |30 leaves the rail |02 in the swinging of the molds M2 and M3, the projection passes over the surface and is supported thereby (Fig. 9). Lying in a recess at the forward end of the surface |34 is a supporting member |38 pivoted upon the bracket |32 and with its surf-ace |40 held yieldably in alinement with the surface |34 by a spring-plunger |42 movable in the bracket. When the molds M2, M3

have reached their section-joining positions parallel to the molds M, M1, the projection |36 will have left the surface |34 and will be above the surface |45 (Fig. 10). The force of the plunger will be sucient to retain the mold M3 in mesh with the mold M2 until the propel separating force has been applied to the roll |35. Then the support E38 yields against the plunger, allowing the mold M3 to descend.

At the under side of the bar 8| is a pair of transversely spaced rolls |52, |50 rotatable about vertical axes, and at the under side of the arm |25 is a similar pair of rolls |52, |52. The rolls |50 run along opposite sides of a rail |54 which extends throughout the lower portion of the rink, supported upon the frame-members. It follows a path similar to that of track 54 and serves to prevent lateral displacement of the mold-pair M, M1. The rolls |52 engage the same rail when the mold-pair M2, M3 is alined with the pair` M, M1 and similarly retain the former in position. The inner roll |52 may also pass through a space |56 in the rail when the rolls are at station B and the pair M2, M3 is swung into section-joining coperation with the pair M, M1 (Fig. 31). Then, as the entire roll-assembly is advanced toward station C, the rolls |52 assume positions for their travel at opposite sides of a pressure-rail having successive sections |55, |50 and |52 (Fig. 27). The section |58 is inclined inwardly toward the rail, this convergence forcing the lter-section contained in the molds M2, M3 against that in the molds M1 to produce their adhesion after they have been cemented. The section |65 may parallel the rail |54 to hold the filter-sections for a time under joining pressure. The section |52 diverges outwardly from the rail |54 to relieve the pressure in preparation for the discharge of the filter. Between the rail-sections |58 and |55 is a space |54 through which the inner roll |52 may pass as the molds are swung intc parallelism. At the inner side of the space |56 is shown a xed vertical wall |66, so separated from the adjacent ends of the two sections of the rail |54 that the inner rolls |52 and |50 may pass it, but guarding against the outer roll of the pair being accidentally forced through the space as the operator at station B pushes the moldassembly toward station C. In the rail |54, beyond station C, is a space |68 to pass the inner roll |52 as the mold-pair M2, M3 is restored by the operator to alinement with the pair M, Ml for advance to the opposite side of the rink.

During the travel of the molds along the railsection |60, after the cemented filter-sections have been caused to adhere by the lateral pressure, the molds M1, M3 are lowered in preparation for the removal of the filter from the companion-molds. Vertically alined with the rail |02 is an overhead cam-rail |10 supported upon one of the brackets 15, it first paralleling the rail |02 for a short distance and then being inclined downwardly and forwardly toward a rail |12, which forms a continuation of the rail |02 at a lower level (Figs. 2'1 to 30). The lower inclined edge of this cam-rail |10 lies in the path of the roll |04 of the mold M1. An overhead cam-rail |14 supported upon a standard |16 is formed similarly to the rail |15 and is located at one side of the pressure-rail-section |60, its incline being somewhat to the rear of the rail |10. This rail |14 is in position to be engaged by the roll |30 of mold M3 when this is in the filter-joining relation. As the rolls |35 and |04 successively strike the inclined edges of the rails |14 and |10 respectively, the mold M3 is first cammed away from the mold M2, the member |38 which has been supporting it yielding, Then the mold M1 is similarly acted upon. This results in the lower portions of the formed iilter being freed from the lower molds, and, since the upper molds oer twice the frictional resistance to displacement of the filter that does either of the successively lowered molds, said lter is unfailingly held by the upper molds for convenient removal by the operator at station C. To facilitate this removal, there is mounted to slide upon the inner face of the mold M in the space into which the lterfolds project, and guided by headed studs |80, |80, a slide |82 (Fig. 2). This slide has at its upper end a finger-piece |84 and at its lower extremity a horizontal extension |85 adapted to engage a lter along substantially its entire diameter. A tension-spring 38 holds the slide with the extension normally raised above the filter, but when depressed the slide strips said filter from the two upper molds, so its falls upon the lower molds in a position convenient for removal by the operator at station C. As may be seen from the full-line position of the rolls |52 in Fig. 31, the mold M2, which contains one section S of the filter, cannot be separated from the mold M in which is the other section, because the hinged molds are still under the control of the rail-seotion |62, the inner roll |52 lying against the inner side of said rail-section. The lter, therefore, cannot be injured in this way. Carried to a position just beyond that for unloading the lter, the rolls |52 will be in the dotted-line position at station C, and the rolls are so located that the pair M2, M3 may be turned back to a position determined by the projection |28 upon the carrier 10, one of the rolls passing through the space |68. The two pairs of molds are now alined, ready for forwarding to the opposite side of the rink, and held in alinement by the contact-of4 It is important that the molds be positioned'- assists ".9 accurately at station A for cooperation with the loading mechanism A1, at station B for cooperation with the coating mechanism B1 and with respect to the rail-spaces |56, |64, and at station C rst as to the end of the` rail-section |if2 and second as to the rail-space |68. To accomplish this, the following means is provided: At each of the stations A, B and C are stop devices d, d1 and d2, respectively (Fig. l), more particularly shown in Figs, 21, 22 and 24. Attached to the inner sident the rail |02 at stations A .and B, and also to the rail |12 at station C is a mounting plate |99 for each of the stop devices, in a recess in which is pivoted at |9| a hook-,shaped primary stop or latch |92. This latch is normally raised by a spring-plunger |94 which holds a tail of the latch yieldably against a stop-rod |96. The depression |98 of the hook is adapted to receive and retain against advance either the roll |39 of the mold M3 or the roll |04 of the mold M1. Pivoted at |9| with the primary latch is a secondary latch 292, consisting of a plate having xed to it a stop-projection 204 which is drawn against the underside of the hook |92 by a tension-spring 296,. This locates the edge 298 of the latch-.plate at the rear of the hook-depression |98 to close this against a rearward movement of a roll which has entered it. At station A the roll |39 of the advancing mold-pair strikes an edge 2| I! on the plate 282 of the device d, forcing this down, the spring 296 yielding. The roll then is stopped by the hook |92 and is held against retraction by the plate which has risen behind it.

Connected to the latch |92 at station A is a link 2|2 (Fig. 23) joined to an angle-piece 2M pivoted to tilt about a horizontal rod 2 E mounted upon one of the frame members 18. Fixed to the outer side of the angle-piece is a block 2li; in which is secured a depending rod 229. To the lower portion of the rod a knee-pad 222 is xed. The manner in which the block is attached to the angle piece and the rod to the block and pad makes it possible to adjust said pad to the position most convenient for the operator. Pressure upon the pad draws down the latches |92 and 292 together and permits the advance of the retained molds. Pressure is thereafter promptly removed from the pad. so the latches again rise for engagement with the roll 94 of the mold M1. Thus, the two mod-pairs of the assembly are successively positioned toV receive a filter-blank s at the mechanism A1. To the latch d1 at station B a rod 224 is `ioined. its lower extremity being connected to a treadle 226 (Fig. 26). With the latch raised, the complete mold-assembly is stopped by its successive engagement with the ro1ls |39 and |92 in such positions 'that the edges of both filter-sections S, S protruding from between the two pairs of molds ,may be coated by the operation of mechanism B1. At station C, the latch d2 is connected by a rod 228 (Fig. 29) to a treadle 23E! (Fig. 1). When the molds are stopped in this position by engagement of the roll |94 with the hook |92 for the removal of .a filter, they are so located that the opposed halves of said molds are held against separation by engagement of the rolls i!! with the rail-section |52 near its end. Upon depression of the treadle 239, Athe molds are released for advance until the roll les engages the vertical face 232 vof a stopslide 23s (Fig. 24), movable in a casing 235 .attached to the sides of the rail-section |12 .and held normally elevated above the rail by a tension-spring 238. This so retains the molds that 10 the outer roll |52, now clear of the rail |52 in the dotted-line position of Fig. 3l, may be swung through the opening |68, ready for advance to the oppOsite side of the rink when a treadle 239 connected to the slide by a rod Zei has been depressed.

Considering now the loading mechanism A1 at station A, this is shown in Fig. l1 in relation to the system as a whole and in greater detail in Figs. 12 to 20. As has previously been explained, the pairs of molds M, M1 and M?, M3 arrive at the loading station A with their arcuate walls 95 and 8,4 partially intermeshed in blankreceiving relation, This is as appears in Fig. 1'1, after a blank has been introduced. The engagement of the roll |39 with the latch device d at this station stops the leading molds M2, M3 with the `forward half, or that in advance of the central abutments Bt and 98, opposite an opening 248 in a vertical wall v25e (Fig. 15) of the loading mechanism A1. This wall rises vertically from the inner side of a bracket 252 (Fig. 11) fixed to a slide 254 guided in horizonta1 ways at the top of a standard 255 attached to the outer end of an extension 25S from a frame member 18. Extending horizontally from the opening 2da is a shelf 260 upon which the operator places a blank s partially folded in a preliminary way. To direct the folds of the leading end of the blank between the mold-walls, there extends outwardly from the opening 2st and upwardly from the shelf 269 a series of partitions 262 (Fig. 19) having their upper edges curved downwardly and outwardly. The partitions between those at the ends of the series register with the walls 96 of the lower mold and may be somewhat curved or inclined-horizontally from their outer ends toward the opening at 2&8 (Fig. l2) to at least partially conform to the curvature of the walls of the molds. This facilitates the entrance of the blanks between the molds. Resting upon the shelf 259, between the outer pairs of partitions at the opposite ends of the series, is a block 26A provided with an upwardly and inwardly inclined surface 265 upon which the lower edges of the outer folds are laid upon the introduction of a blank. This elevates said blank sufficiently to remove it from Contact with the shelf except over a quite limited surface, and thus reduces the friotional resistance to advance. In the wall 2.50 beside the opening 2&3 is an opening 266, across which is a horizontal stop-rod 258. Secured over the opening 266 is the nozzle 219 of an exhaust-conduit 212 (Fig. l1), the exhaustproducing means not being illustrated. As the leading end of a bank is advanced between the partitions through the wall-opening 2&8 and enters between the walls of the molds, there is applied to it, through the passages formed between the intermeshing mold-walls, the continuous pull exerted by the exhaust, which aids in drawing the blank rapidly into the passages and against the rod 253. This not only makes more prompt the introduction of the blank, but also guards against .the operator forcing it forward soit might be deformed. To decrease losses of suction through the mold-passages by leakage at the rear of the molds, the space is closed by a wall 215| curved upon the same radius as the exterior of the holders 32 and 94 and having arcuate projections 216, 21B (Figs. 11 and le). which, as the upper and lower molds are related during the loading of the blanks, will t closely about mold-surfaces 213 and between shoulders 280 (Fig. 17).

The location of the stop-rod 268 and the length of the folded blank s with relation to the length of the passages between the arcuate walls of the molds, is such that when a blank is against the rod its ends project equally from the opposite extremities of the passages. Consequently, as the pairs of molds enter and leave station A, the outer wall 25), and the elements movable with it, must be withdrawn from the path of the molds, as must also the inner wall 214, to be carried to their effective relation when a pair is stopped by the latching device d at the station. As has already been pointed out, the wall 258 is mounted upon a slide 254. The wall 214 is formed upon the forward end of a slide 282 guided upon the horizontal top of a standard 284 rising from the frame-extension 25S (Figs. 12, 13 and 14). The two slides are normally held out of cooperation with the molds, but may be shifted in the following manner to the eiective positions of the elements which they bear: Upon the standard 258 is fulcrumed a bell-crank-lever 286, and upon the standard 284 a bell-crank-lever 288. An upwardly'extending arm of each lever is forked to engage a projection from the corresponding slide. Arms extending in a generally horizontal direction from the levers 235 and 22S are connected respectively by rods 238, 232 to a treadle 234 (Figs. 1 and 1l) A tension-spring 296 associated with the rod 292 holds thetreadle and both rods normally raised and the two slides in their inactive positions. Depression of the treadle by the operator, after the molds are in loading position at station A as determined by the device d, simultaneously moves the walls 253 and 214 into coperation with the molds.

Were the operator to attempt to carry the molds to the loading position when the wall 214 was arranged for coperation with said molds, or to advance them when they were surrounded by the wall, its outer ends 216 might be broken. Means is provided to guard against either occurrence. Fulcrumed upon the standard 284 beneath the slide 232, for movement horizontally, is a lever 38|) which is normally drawn by a tensionspring 302 against an adjustable stop 384. `This places a laterally adjustable contact member 38S, attached to the rear extremity of the lever, in front of the upper end of the bell-crank lever`238 (see dotted-line position in Fig. 13). The lever, and therefore the slide 282, is thus locked against forward movement, which would place the wall 214 in the path of the molds. From the rear of each of the upper `mold-holders 82, 82 is a projection 3l8 (Figs. 8 and 12), so located that, as each mold-pair arrives at the loading station, it will engage a forward contact-portion 3|2 of the lever, swinging this clockwise as viewed from above. This removes the lever 328 from the path of the lever 288 to the position of Fig. 12, permitting the lever 288 to be actuated to the full-line position of Fig. 13 to advance the wall 214 about the molds which have reached the loading position. As soon as the operator allows the spring 296 to withdraw the wall, the arm of the lever 288 passes to the rear of the contact member 306 and, when the advance of the molds begins, the contact member 30 is restored by the spring 332 to its slide-locking position, remaining there until the next mold-proj ection 3io frees the slide and wall for advance as before. When the slide 282 and wall 214 are forward in closing relation to the rear of a Amold-pair, a rod 3|4, swiveled at 3|6 to the lever 288 (Fig. 13), lies at its forward end just beneath the hook |32 of the stop device d at station A (Figs. 11 `and 21). Said latch is thus locked against depression, and the molds are locked against advance, they being freed only upon withdrawal of the wall and with it the rod 3| 4. It will therefore be seen that the molds can be advanced into and out of station A only when the wall is retracted and there is no danger of injuring the projecting ends 216 of the wall.

Both pairs of molds having received their blanks s at station A, the operator a releases the molds from their latch d and forwards them to station B, where the pairs are successively latched at d1 in position for the operator b to coat the surfaces l by use of the mechanism B1. As to the present invention, the exact character of the coating mechanism is not important, it being only necessary that the coating applied is adequate. As appears in Fig. 26, cement from a container 320 mounted in a support 3|8 attached to the frame 0f the rink is supplied to a trough 322, in which is constantly rotated a supply-roll 324 journaled in the support. As is shown in Fig. 25, this supply-roll may be driven from a motor 32| and an interposed countershaft 323 through belt-gearing 325, while similar gearing 321 rotates the supply-roll 324 for the coating mechanism at the opposite side of the rink. When in position to take cement from the supply-roll, an applying roll 326 is rotated through gearing 328 for the distribution of a complete coating about its periphery. The applying roll is journaled in an arm 330 pivoted in a carrier 332 which is guided for vertical movement. By a handle 334, the operator b swings the arm in from the supply-roll to a position just above the surface of the two-filter-sections S, S held in the pairs of molds M, M1 and M2, M3 successively positioned by the stop device d1, and then lowers the carrier through a rod 338 upon depression of a treadle 338. A tension-spring 340 holds these elements normally raised. The applying roll passes over and coats simultaneously the surfaces l, of the positioned filter-section, and in the descent of the roll below the work, ratchet mechanism 342 causes said roll to be rotated suiciently to present a fresh coating surface, when the operator releases the treadle and the carrier-arm and applying roll are elevated, to lay a second coating upon the surfaces l. In passing the points of the folds f in both its downward and upward travel, the applying roll leaves thereon beads of cement, which increase the adhesion and strengthen the portions of the filter likely to be weak. During the coating of the filter-sections in the molds M, M2 the wall |66 guards against inward movement of the rolls |52.

After the filter-section in the second pair of molds has been coated at station B, they are freed from the latching device d1 and the carrier 10 forwarded by the operator b to station C. Here, the latching device d2 holds the molds for the removal of the filter, as already described. The holder C1 at station C, upon which the joined sections of the filter are placed for lap-cementing, may be of the character shown in Figs. 29 and 32. In the present connection, it is necessary only that the filter be held in place with the laps readily accessible. This holder has a base 358 secured to one of the frame members 18. In the base a vertical spindle 352 is rotatable and longitudinally movable, it having fixed to its upper extremity a body 354 from which rises an annular flange 356. Fulcrumed to the opposite sides of the body are bell-crank-levers 358, 358, upwardly extending arms of which have arcuate 

